Oak Ridge Today

B&W Y-12 names Bill Reis as vice president of public, governmental affairs

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Bill Reis

Bill Reis

Bill Reis has been appointed vice president of public and governmental affairs for B&W Y-12, the contractor that manages and operates the Y-12 National Security Complex.

Reis has worked at Y-12 for 30 years in a variety of roles, a press release said. He most recently served as vice president for environment, safety, and health. During his tenure, B&W Y-12 achieved Voluntary Protection Program, or VPP, Star status, reduced the recordable injury rate by 30 percent, and developed a more robust health and wellness program. In this role, he has also been the site’s primary interface with local, state, and federal environmental agencies. [Read more…]

NNSA to decide on Y-12, Pantex contract in early November

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Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

The National Nuclear Security Administration will make a selection decision in early November on the consolidated contract to manage and operate the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, pictured above, and Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas.

The National Nuclear Security Administration will make a selection decision in early November on the consolidated contract to manage and operate the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge and Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, officials said.

The contract, which could be worth up to $22.8 billion over 10 years, was initially awarded in January, but it has been held up by bid protests. The NNSA is hoping to avoid a third round of protests and has asked the three bidding teams if they are willing to share confidential information to help avoid challenges “based on incomplete information and suspicions that are unfounded.”

In a statement this week, the NNSA, a separate agency within the U.S. Department of Energy, said its technical experts have finished evaluating the offers in response to corrective action taken in June, and federal officials will give each bidding team a debriefing. The three teams are Integrated Nuclear Production Solutions LLC of Oak Ridge; Nuclear Production Partners LLC, or NP2, of Lynchburg, Va.; and Consolidated Nuclear Security LLC, or CNS, of Reston, Va. [Read more…]

Budget cuts cause concern in research community, including at ORNL

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Thom Mason

Thom Mason

The budget deal that Congress approved earlier this month to reopen the government and raise the debt ceiling kept in place automatic budget cuts known as sequestration.

But those across-the-board cuts are causing concern in the scientific community, including at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

In August, ORNL Director Thom Mason said the lab had been, up to that point, mostly immune from the cuts because of steps that UT-Battelle, the managing and operating contractor, had already taken to cut costs, including through workforce restructuring, reduced staff and overhead budgets, and benefit changes.

“We’ve just been doing everything we can to prepare for lean budgets,” Mason said. [Read more…]

Neutrons, electrons, and theory reveal secrets of natural gas reserves

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Scanning Electronic Microscope Image of Unconventional Gas Reservoir

A scanning electron microscope image illustrating mineralogy and texture of an unconventional gas reservoir. Note that nanoporosity is not resolvable with this image. SANS and USANS analysis is required to quantify pore size distribution and interconnectivity. (Photo courtesy Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

Gas and oil deposits in shale have no place to hide from an Oak Ridge National Laboratory technique that provides an inside look at pores and reveals structural information potentially vital to the nation’s energy needs.

The research by scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy laboratory could clear the path to the more efficient extraction of gas and oil from shale, environmentally benign and efficient energy production from coal, and perhaps viable carbon dioxide sequestration technologies, according to Yuri Melnichenko, an instrument scientist at ORNL’s High Flux Isotope Reactor. [Read more…]

Nobel Laureate launches Wigner Distinguished Lecture Series at ORNL

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Albert Fert

Albert Fert

Three more Nobel winners, former Intel chairman among nine confirmed speakers

Four Nobel Laureates are among nine lecturers who will be participating in the new Eugene P. Wigner Distinguished Lecture Series in Science, Technology, and Policy at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Albert Fert, recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physics, opens the series on Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. in the Iran Thomas Auditorium at ORNL’s Spallation Neutron Source.

“The Wigner lectures aim to invigorate scientific discovery and technological innovation and to initiate productive scientific policy debate,” said Thom Mason, laboratory director. [Read more…]

No new date yet for Y-12 safety, UPF meeting canceled due to shutdown

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Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

A federal nuclear safety board has not yet rescheduled a Knoxville meeting to discuss, among other things, the risks associated with continuing to operate old buildings involved in weapons work at the Y-12 National Security Complex, pictured above, and the progress made in the past year to incorporate safety into the design of the multi-billion dollar Uranium Processing Facility. (Photo courtesy B&W Y-12)

A federal nuclear safety board has not yet rescheduled a meeting in Knoxville that had been expected to discuss this week, among other things, the risks associated with continuing to operate old buildings involved in weapons work at the Y-12 National Security Complex—and the progress made in the past year to incorporate safety into the design of the multi-billion dollar Uranium Processing Facility.

The federal Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety Board had been scheduled to have the day-long meeting and public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Knoxville Convention Center. But it was delayed due to the partial shutdown of the federal government, which started Oct. 1 and ended Oct. 17.

[Read more…]

ORNL’s Storey named fellow of Society of Automotive Engineers

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John Storey

John Storey

John Storey of Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been elected fellow of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

He is recognized for pioneering new techniques in the characterization of exhaust emissions, his work for the diesel fuel sulfur rule, and for his multiple contributions to the development of lean exhaust emissions control.

Storey works in ORNL’s Energy and Transportation Science Division. He lives in Oak Ridge.

Powell leads ORNL’s Environment, Safety and Health Directorate

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John E. Powell

John E. Powell

John E. Powell has been named director of the Environment, Safety and Health Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The appointment is effective immediately.

Powell received his bachelor of science degree in environmental engineering from Purdue University. He has 29 years of experience with a variety of environment, safety, and health, or ES&H, disciplines including working with state and federal regulatory agencies, leading multi-disciplinary teams to develop solutions to complex ES&H challenges, and emergency response planning management. [Read more…]

Y-12 receives six of 18 NNSA sustainability awards

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Y-12 National Security Complex Aerial View

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge received six of 18 sustainability awards announced by the National Nuclear Security Administration on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy B&W Y-12)

The Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge received six of 18 sustainability awards announced by the National Nuclear Security Administration on Tuesday.

The NNSA said the awards were for innovation and excellence at its national laboratories and sites. They recognize exemplary individual and team performance in advancing sustainability goals through innovative and effective programs and projects that increase energy, water, and fleet efficiency, and reduce greenhouse gases, pollution and waste, a press release said.

“I congratulate the winners of this year’s sustainability awards and all those involved in our efforts to implement environmentally responsible and sustainable operations and projects,” said James McConnell, NNSA acting associate administrator for infrastructure and operations. “NNSA will continue striving to develop new and creative solutions to minimize the environmental impact of our vital national security mission.” [Read more…]

New director named at Climate Change Science Institute at ORNL

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Jack Fellows

Jack Fellows

Jack D. Fellows, who oversaw a $110 billion federal science portfolio under two U.S. presidents and co-founded the U.S. Global Change Research Program integrating all federal Earth system science research programs, has been appointed director of the Climate Change Science Institute at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Martin Keller and Jeff Nichols, leaders of the Energy and Environmental Sciences Directorate and the Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate respectively, announced Fellows’ appointment.

“Jack Fellows is a welcome addition to our climate change science program,” said ORNL Director Thom Mason. “His extensive experience in directing research and education programs, most recently as vice-president for the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, will be particularly valuable as CCSI moves forward in its work of advancing the understanding of the Earth system, describing the consequences of climate change, and evaluating and informing policy on the potential outcomes of responses to climate change.” [Read more…]

NNSA Production Office names public affairs specialist

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Rebekah Nwangwa

Rebekah Nwangwa

Rebekah Nwangwa has been named public affairs specialist for the National Nuclear Security Administration Production Office, or NPO.

In her new position, Nwangwa is responsible for supporting NNSA communications programs through news media relations, employee communications, emergency public information, and community and intergovernmental relations, a press release said. Nwangwa will also oversee real property activities and other activities in the NPO Business and Contract Management organization.

Nwangwa joined the former Y-12 Site Office in 2011 as an intern under the NNSA Student Career Experience Program. She received a dual degree in law and master’s of public administration from the University of Tennessee College Of Law in 2013 and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Vanderbilt University in 2009. She is a native of Farragut. [Read more…]

Shutdown ends: Oak Ridgers relieved, but frustrated with Congress

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Dean's Restaurant and Bakery

Dean Russell, co-owner of Dean’s Restaurant and Bakery in Jackson Square, has put up a sign expressing frustration with Congress over the government shutdown. Pictured above are restaurant servers Cassandra Prater, right, and Andy Tatum.

The end of the government shutdown last week brought relief to Oak Ridge, especially at the Y-12 National Security Complex, where up to about 3,600 workers were expected to be furloughed starting last Thursday unless a deal was reached.

Chuck Spencer, general manager of B&W Y-12, which manages and operates Y-12, told workers on Thursday that a shutdown to minimum staffing had been averted and the furloughs would no longer be necessary. There had been reports that only about 900 workers might have remained starting today.

Spencer said the nuclear weapons plant, which started an orderly shutdown two weeks ago on Monday, Oct. 7, will begin planning to resume normal operations.

Normal operations resumed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory on Thursday, Director Thom Mason said in a message to staff. ORNL had enough funding to continue operating through October and into November, but officials had started preparing for a possible temporary shutdown and unpaid furloughs in case the shutdown continued.

Oak Ridge residents remained frustrated even after Congress and the White House reached a last-minute, short-term spending agreement late Wednesday night that averted the shutdowns and furloughs, just hours before a deadline to raise the nation’s debt ceiling and after some local businesses had already reported that the shutdown had affected their operations. [Read more…]